The sight of Andrew Flintoff mixing with the county cricket players, providing advice during a pre-season net session, highlighted the growing influence of one of the most recognizable personalities of sport in the first pangs of this year of ash.
Although he makes him say that his appearance in social media clichés last Wednesday came with a ulterior motive – his eldest son Corey, 19, should win a recruit contract in Kent after a trial period – it was an indication of the way he became integrated into the English game since his re -emergence after his Top Gear Horror accident two years ago which left him seriously.
Officially, Flintoff Senior was in Canterbury as a guest of Adam Hollioake, who has gotten into the habit of inviting mentors since his arrival as a head coach in order to offer contrasting voices to his – Keith Medlycott, who supervised a period of seven trophies in Surrey, and the Stalwart Darren Stevens previous visitors.
The friendship between Flintoff and Hollioake dates back to the 1990s. Hollioake was in the England team when Flintoff made its international day in 1999. Recently, Hollioake was part of the Flintoff coache team during the Tournée de England in Australia.
Such relationships have been an integral part of the Flintoff path to elite sport. Rob Key, the director general of the ECB of male cricket, initially saw the incognito presence of one of his friends closest to the 2023 test series against Australia as a form of rehabilitation.
But Key soon estimated that these drop-ins were mutually beneficial, to the point that he was promoted to assistant coach during the tours in England in a few months and even envisaged for white ball work when Matthew Mott was dismissed last year.
Andrew Flintoff has become more and more influential in terms of talented research for England
Flintoff has become integrated into the English game since his re -emergence after his horror accident
Flintoff advises the head coach of England Brendon McCullum (R) and the national selector Luke Wright on which the players could take the
Now, beyond being as a parental guide that Corey follows younger brother Rocky in professional ranks, Flintoff shapes dozens of careers with his observations on the talent of the country.
Everyone loves Freddie. Seasoned county artists were raised on his exploits during the Ashes in 2005. They too young for having lived it with first hand, know everything about legend. They hang on to each of his words, but how much is his eye excited with regard to the picking of players? This is the question.
Because it is now falling on him to advise Key, the coach of England Brendon McCullum and the national selector Luke Wright on the County Cricket WHO could be ready for international cricket.
Indeed, it was mainly comments from Flintoff that Sonny Baker, the 22 -year -old fast launcher who increased the sticks in the Hampshire of Somerset, received a development agreement in England. Baker, said Flintoff, created `Theater and Magic ‘on Australian terrains last winter. Thus, whatever his domestic returns this season, do not be surprised if he appears as a competitor of the ashes.
Flintoff did not have an excellent record as a player in Australia, ending on the losing side in each of his first 14 internationals. Its best performance below under the control of the examination and the intensity of the ashes: for the world XI in 2005.
The former captain of England mixed a discipline with aggression, ending with seven for 107 figurines. It was an approach that was aligned with comments this week by the former Australia international Mick Lewis, now a bowling coach in Yorkshire, on the best way to visit attacks to prosper in his homeland.
England intends to hit the Australians with a raw speed next winter, but Lewis warned against this, saying: “The rhythm is a weapon in Australia, yes, but it’s not good to have a rhythm if you cannot hold your length. In Australia, if you are just short, short, good length, short, you will be murdered.
Likewise, Darren Lehmann, the former Australian coach currently working in the county match of Northampothire, recently said that England had created a fantastic brand in Bazball, but not a winner.
It was mainly comments from Flintoff that Sonny Baker received a development agreement in England
Rob Key was impressed by the impact that Flintoff made in the configuration of England
Flintoff will have formulated reflections on a style capable of success, both the game experience and the January tour which ended with a sleeve defeat with Australia A, and will be able to implement them during the construction of the Ashes, because the Lions will provide the only opposition – either in a single four -day competition, or two days – before the first test in PERTH on November 21.
Before that, he will supervise a pair of first class lighting against India has in Canterbury and Northampton between May 30 and June 9 which will act as additional examinations of people on the way to full international honors.
There is also every chance that it is included in a training and connection camp in England proposed by Captain Ben Stokes before the single May test against Zimbabwe from May 22.
In what promises to be the most pivotal months of the Bazball era for Key, Stokes and McCullum, in Fred, they trust.
